Thunder: The Shadows Are Stirring (Thunder Stories Book 1) (40 page)

I am quick to note he doesn’t sound apologetic at all. Following his words, though, the ash-filled sulfuric air seems to pull and sift apart and a stream of cool fresh air envelopes my body. Shoist, man. He’d been holding out on me! What was that for anyway?! No way did he “forget” he could manipulate the air stream and pull cool air from whatever layer he wanted. I gulp in the sweetest oxygen I have ever had the pleasure to breathe. There’s moisture in the mix and I feel my brutalized cells gasp in relief as they drink it in, fill back up. When I have the strength, I scowl.

Thunder nickers again, enjoying more of his own fabulous humor.
You are thinking too deeply again, young one. And to answer your question—it was a learning opportunity, of course.
He grins dryly at me, as much as a horse can attempt anyway.
It is so you can understand some of what the boys have gone through and remember that they have had to suffer this situation alone and with minimal help.

“They’ve had help?” I whisper-yelp at him. No need to alert anyone to our presence.

It is the only way they can have survived thus far.

“Got it. Let’s get going.”

I can’t go with you Ethan. This is your journey again.

“What?! What kind of cra—garbage is that? You’re right here!”

There are rules to follow. For a reason. But you will not be alone, Child. I am here waiting for you. And, as I said, I will do what I can to keep you safe.

 Aw, gee, ain’t that sweet? I sass in my head, but not deeply enough for him to hear because he simply nudges me forward with his nose and I just have to accept that things don’t always seem fair. He blows a breath across my face that brings with it the smell of home: open fields and forested mountains. It feels like a blessing, and I take it as such, letting the sass drain away. Reaching up, I rub his nose and say, “We’ll see you soon, then.”

I make my way down the tunnel and around a bend, where the molten walls seem to harden into black lava stone and expand into a large chamber I recognize as the room Olivia described to me from her dream. The rock walls, no longer displaying the molten glow, are illuminated by infrequent wrought iron sconces. Since salamanders see better at night, they don’t need much light. After letting let my eyes adjust, I can make out the forms of boulders and other volcanic rock chunks which litter the floor. I stay crouched behind a large boulder. Unlike Olivia’s dream, Creep’s not standing in the shadows by the rocks; he’d be on the battlefield somewhere. Unfortunately, like Olivia’s dream, Sam and Jamie are both chained to the floor.

Even worse: Straddling their bodies, in a gesture that would have appeared protective had I not known the nature of the beast, is the largest salamander I’ve seen yet. Its mucus-covered skin is slightly phosphorescent and it stands with its emerald green belly about a foot above Sam’s torso. Its four legs are splayed over their unmoving forms; the guys have about a half foot on either side to move. Obviously, however, they’re not moving much. And neither, for that matter, is the monster. If Olivia had seen her brothers like this in her nightmares, she didn’t adequately describe how horrific it was. There’s a mixture of dried blood and vomit on the floor, their skin is red, and their lips are split. They even seem a little swollen. And yet, even from where I stand across the room, I can see the hitching rise and fall of their chests.

I’m at a loss. If I shoot the thing with an arrow, the blood will drip onto the boys; if I do anything to make the thing fall over or step sideways, there’d be skin-to-skin contact. The salamander tips its snout and it raises its head in my direction; it knows I’m here. And I still don’t get what’s going on. If its intent is to torture Sam and Jamie, well, they’re too far gone to realize what’s going on; and Olivia should already be doing … whatever she should be doing. She wouldn’t be seeing this in a dream or anything. If it wanted to kill them, all it would have to do is lower itself down on top of them; it’s not like they’re exactly in fighting shape. What, then? At this point, I realize it doesn’t even matter what the thing’s intentions are. I’m here to get the guys and bring them home. Maybe it would like me better; fresh blood and all. Maybe I can be bait.

Stepping out from behind the boulder, I show myself. I’ve opted for my knife and sword. Holding them defensively, I watch for telltale signs of what the creature is going to do. And it does nothing. I take a step closer, and the creature draws a leg closer to Jamie’s side. I stand still. So does the salamander.

Okay. I’m a Guardian. Thinking about my whole guardian-protector role, I realize the first course of action shouldn’t always be attack or destroy. There should also be some middle ground, to sort out and understand a situation. And sacrifice. Sometimes a sacrifice has to be made. For the larger picture, the end game. I don’t plan on exactly laying down my life, but I would willingly place myself between Olivia and death. I’ve got to do the same for her brothers. It’s the one thing I can think of.

I drop both weapons to the ground, where they clatter with an echo. Sam twitches, and narrowly misses hitting his arm into a bright green leg. Holding my arms out to my sides, palms up, I show the thing I mean it no harm. I want it to walk away from the boys.

It watches me steadily with its round black eyes and startles me by clicking in a sound combination that forms distinguishable words, reminding me of someone with an electronic voice box.

“What do you expect to gain by an unarmed approach?”

Not what I thought would be said, and the voice sounds female, which for some reason also surprises me. I grope for words that might turn this situation in my favor. “Um, I’m giving you the upper hand, letting you see I don’t want to hurt you.”

She makes a loud ticking noise—a laugh? A warning?—and says, “This is you gaining my trust? Throwing weapons at your feet?”

Again, not what I expected. “Yeah, well, now I’m unarmed. You obviously have the advantage ….”

Silence.

“Fine. I want you to release my friends.”

“Do you often find yourself making judgments based on appearances?”

“Say, what?”

“You. Judgmental, much?”

“Uh, not typically.”

“You make the wonderful exception for me?”

Um. “Look. I’ve been through a lot with the People of the Flame. So have my friends. Obviously.” I stare meaningfully at their unmoving forms. “Sorry if I’ve read the situation wrong, but it seems like the guys are almost dead and you’re preventing them from leaving. I need them to come with me. Alive.”

“Come, now. Did no one teach you manners? Granted, I understand where you’re coming from. However, just because the majority of a community acts in a certain manner, in no way does that determine the beliefs or actions of an individual.”

“Wait. Some of the Flame Dwellers don’t agree with the Sliders?”

“One.”

“One what?” I’m getting a headache.

“Me. I do not agree. I am beyond ages old and have seen evil and goodness come and go in an endless ebb and flow of time. What they hope to accomplish now will sway things too far out of balance. While I have no particular fondness for any of the Dwellers, the Sliders seek too much.”

“You’ve been helping them stay alive?” I nod towards the boys.

“No. I do not understand their strength of will nor their longevity. I only know everyone has left for the battle fields. I am exempt, due to my age. I have been placed on guard here. To prevent an escape. Is there a reason I should go against the will of my people?”

“Yes. These guys, my friends, my brothers—their sister needs them to survive, so she can help keep the balance in check.” And in order for me to keep going, I need their sister. But I don’t bother saying that; it’s bad enough Thunder knows how I feel before I can even talk to Olivia.

“What’s in it for you?” The ticking takes on a sly edge.

“Uh, saving the world isn’t enough?”

“Everyone has a personal agenda; it’s foolish to think otherwise. We are all selfish creatures and we work life in our favor, otherwise what would be the point? Even when you hero types do your good, it’s all about how it makes you feel, so you can pat yourself on the back and think to yourself, ‘Look what I did! I’m better than you.’ Right? So, again, what’s in it for you?”

I don’t like what she said or even agree with it. And she’s more than a little twisted, in a creepy and weirdly fascinating kind of way. But right now, she’s right. Something
is
in it for me: Olivia. And her brothers, of course. I can’t argue. I grind my teeth and tell her.

She smiles a wide rubbery grin, her tongue flicking into the air. “You could say I’m a sucker for the personal touch. Okay. Now you ask what’s in it for me if I let the four of you leave.”

I stiffen.

“Oh, yes, I can smell the Shifter. What’s in it for me if I do let you walk out of here? You didn’t ask, but I’ll tell you: I might like how saving your sorry rear makes me feel.” She dips her upper torso into a kind of bow, bringing her within inches of Sam’s body.

I groan inwardly. “Great. Thank you. What do we do now?”

“Come and get them.” The end of her tail lazily twitches and her tongue darts out and licks her eyes in a way that gives me the heebie-jeebies.

I hesitate.

“Do you not trust me?”

“You haven’t done anything to gain my trust.”

“I haven’t touched your
friends
. That should inspire trust.”

There is that. I take a deliberate step forward. And so does she. Step for step we cross the chamber, towards each other, until she is no longer above either of the boys. And at this point she’s pretty darn close to me. In fact, now it appears she’s been on the prowl and I’m her intended prey. I swear under my breath. She does the rapid ticking thing again and this time I hear it echoed from behind her, coming from an adjoining tunnel. She smiles winningly.

“Ah, the chief arrives. You
could
say I’m a sucker, but I’m not. What’s in it for me is that, if you kill him, I will become the new head of the Flame People. I like my own way of thinking, not the Sliders’. The People of the Flame are fickle. I will have quite an allegiance by the time this is done with. Destroy Maldyr, and I will let the four of you go. If
you
die, there’s no loss on my part. I’ll merely make it appear we’ve fought, so he doesn’t question my motives. If you don’t mind.”

Abruptly, she whips her tail around and, before I can fully leap away, catches me across my legs. I stumble backwards onto the rock floor.

Her tail detaches and she stumps away from it, making grunting and groaning noises and shoving rocks around before huddling to the floor, like I was the one who attacked her. I guess I just witnessed our fight. Speaking of which—I jump up and run for my sword and dagger. Luckily, my body did not get burned by the crazy chick’s slime.

There’s not much time before this Maldyr guy shows up; he pads his way into the room right as I am flexing my grip on the hilt of the sword. I’m already facing the entryway as he steps through. The sight makes me want to copy the actions of Greenie. Basically lie on the floor and twitch. Not that it would help me. But maybe I wouldn’t shake as much if I could cower on the ground and regain my equilibrium.

Like Thunder had said, I know I am not alone in here. But it sure as heck feels like it. Regardless, I face down the orange and black Salamand-osaur lumbering towards me and try to exude confidence and courage. His skin is so wet, I can see the beads of moisture run together and drip to the ground.
Poisonous skin, toxic blood
, I remind myself before charging forward—a move that doesn’t seem to be what Maldyr had anticipated. Maybe he’s used to people falling down at his feet. He doesn’t have time to move much by the time I have pole vaulted over him, cutting into his body with both blades and keeping my hands clear of blood and slime. I twist and flip around and land a little closer than I’d have liked. But it’s enough distance to turn back and try for a second round. This time the move is anticipated and the fire-colored beast nimbly steps aside.

I hadn’t, however, been aiming for him. Rather, I’d gone for the boulder at his side. His move nicely places him into position for me. I springboard off the large rock and  bound back to where I need to be. Using my blades as a fulcrum, I slice into thick hide and soft flesh while I pivot my body around. Instinctively, I jerk away when blood spatter sprays towards me, but whatever Thunder did to allow cool air to circulate around me seems to be keeping the vile stuff from making contact with my body.

“Huh. Check that out Moldy,” I taunt. “You’ll have to do more than bleed on me!”

Probably not my wisest move. As soon as we both realize that fact, neither of us holds back. I’m slammed into walls and lashed repeatedly by the tail; my face is used to mop up some of the volcanic ash, my legs as a battering ram. But soon as I can manage, the tail lies twitching on the floor and I gain the upper hand. By the end of it, I’m cut, bruised and battered, and halfway alive. Which is better than Maldyr, who lies on the ground in his own boiling blood—all the way dead.

I have enough energy to wheeze out, “Yo, Green Bean. You good on your word, or am I taking you on, too?”

She lets out a hacking chortle. “Impressive, Scrawny One. I’d almost like to keep you around. For entertainment purposes.”

My eyes burn fire and she laughs again.

“Yes. I’ll keep my word. Tell your horse he may come in. You’ll need help carrying the two prisoners. I’ve got a coup to complete. I fare-thee-well and all that nonsense. Watch your back. I vouch for no one.”

I may not like her technique but, hopefully, she won’t be as evil as Maldyr, who welcomed the tyranny of the Sliders. It sounded like she was a little milder anyway. Milder, but still definitely twisted. Without waiting for a response, she drops an iron key, which must have been pocketed in her cheek. She turns away from me and I pay no more attention to her; I’m already racing over to the unconscious boys.

We don’t even wait around to check them out. We just unlock their bonds, pile them onto Thunder’s back with me sitting behind to make sure no one slips, and head to Oden’s base.